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ROMEO SAYOC y AQUINO and RICARDO SANTOS y JACOB vs.PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES

G.R. No. 157723 April 30, 2009 SECOND DIVISION TINGA, J

FACTS: In the afternoon of 4 March 1999, Elmer Jaen (Jaen) was aboard a bus when a fellow passengerannounced a hold-up. Three (3) persons then proceeded to divest the passengers of their belongings. Under knife-point, purportedly by a man later identified as Ricardo Santos (Santos), Jaens necklace was taken by Santoscohort Teodoro Almadin (Almadin). The third robber, Romeo Sayoc (Sayoc), meanwhile, reportedly threatened toexplode the hand grenade he was carrying if anybody would move. After taking Jaens two gold rings, bracelet andwatch, the trio alighted from the bus.

PO2 Remedios Terte (police officer), who was a passenger in the same bus, ran after the accused, uponhearing somebody shouting about a hold-up. Sayoc was found by the police officer hiding in an "owner-type" jeep.The latter instructed Jaen to guard Sayoc while she pursued the two robbers. Sayoc was then brought to the policestation.

A few hours later, barangay officials arrived at the police station with Santos and Almadin. They reported

that the two accused were found hiding inside the house of one Alfredo Bautista but were prevailed upon tosurrender.1avvphi1

On 25 November 1999, the RTC convicted petitioners for violation of Presidential Decree No. 532, otherwiseknown as the Anti-Highway Robbery Law of 1974 and sentenced them to suffer imprisonment from twelve (12)years and one (1) day of reclusion temporal, as minimum to seventeen (17) years, four (4) months and one (1) dayof reclusion temporal, as maximum. They were also ordered to pay jointly and severally the amount of P4,500.00 tothe victim6

On 30 January 2002, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial courts decision.

ISSUE: Are accused guilty for violation of PD 532?

RULING: The Court AFFIRMS WITH MODIFICATION the findings of fact and conclusions of law in the Decisiondated 30 January 2002 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR No. 24140, finding appellants Romeo Sayoc andRicardo Santos guilty beyond reasonable doubt of simple highway robbery. Appellants are hereby sentenced to theindeterminate penalty of seven (7) years and four (4) months ofprision mayor, as minimum, to thirteen (13) years,nine (9) months and ten (10) days ofreclusion temporal, as maximum, and to pay jointly and severally the amountof P

4,500.00 to the private complainant, Elmer Jaen as their civil liability, with legal interest from the filing of theInformation until fully paid. Since appellants are detention prisoners, they shall be credited with the period of theirtemporary imprisonment.